What decisions can they make?

Parish and town councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Central Government is encouraging local councils to deliver more services and play a greater part in their communities.

Parish and town councils are the backbone of their communities and have the support of local people. The Localism Act is the government’s affirmation that the Government support communities, and through the Act have introduced a range of ways that communities, with the help of town and parish councils, can bring to life the changes they want to see and to help make decisions about the things that directly affect residents, enabling stronger, more vibrant, more resilient and independent communities.

Parish and town councils have a variety of powers and duties (PDF, 21KB) given to them by Acts of Parliament. However not all parish and town councils use all of their powers. Each parish or town council is an individual governing body.

The Localism Act

The Localism Act 2011 has also provided Local Authorities with a General Power of Competence (GPC). The power was a central part of the Governments move towards decentralisation of powers down to the lowest level of local government. The intention is to provide eligible parish and town councils with a general power of competence to better enable them to take on their enhanced role and allow them to do the things they have previously been unable to do under existing powers. The idea being that parish and town councils will use this power to work with others to provide cost effective services and facilities in new ways to meet the needs of the local community. The GPC gives local eligible parish and town councils the 'power to do anything that individuals generally may do' as long as they do not break other laws. The GPC is a broad ranging power, far wider than any other power that has previously been available.